Expandable load brace

ABSTRACT

AN ELONGATED LOAD BRACE HAS A FIXED PORTION ADJUSTABLY POSITIONED AT SELECTED FIXED POINTS ALONG SPACED, PARALLEL RAILS. A MOVABLE PORTION IS CAMMED LATERALLY AWAY FROM THE FIXED PORTION AGAINST THE LOAD AND THEN LOCKED IN PLACE. CAM MEANS FOR MOVING THE MOVABLE PORTION ARE MOUNTED ON AXES DISPOSED PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLATE, OF LATERAL MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVABLE PORTION.

Sept. 20, 1971 R. E. JAMES 3,605,638

EXPANDABLE LOAD BRACE Filed Jan. 10, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 /NVENTOR Robert E James R. E. JAMES 3,605,638

EXPANDABLE LOAD BRACE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 20," 1971 Filed Jan. 10, 1969 Sept. 20, 1971 R. E. JAMES 3,605,638

EXPANDABLE LOAD BRACE Filed Jan. 10, 1969 s Sheets-Sheet s B J. nous/1' ATTORNFY Patented Sept. 20, 1971 3,605,638 EXPANDABLE LOAD BRACE Robert E. James, Parma Heights, Ohio, assignor to The Shunk Manufacturing Company, Inc., Bucyrus, Ohio Filed Jan. 10, 1969, Ser. No. 790,233 Int. Cl. B60p 7/16; B61d 45/00 US. Cl. 105369B 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a load brace and particularly to an elongated brace adapted to be mounted between two fixed points on a load conveyance means, said brace having an elongated portion which is movable laterally against a load to secure the load in place during transportation thereof.

In general, the embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed comprises an elongated member adapted to be fixedly mounted between parallel rails carried by a conveyance means, such as a fiat bottomed gondola car. Means are provided whereby said member maybe adjustably mounted along the rails to position said member close to a load to be braced. A second elongated member is mounted parallel with the first mentioned member for movement laterally thereof, and cam means are provided adjacent to each end of the fixed member for camming the second member against the load. Means are also provided for locking the cam in position whereby the second or movable member is held tightly against the load in transit.

It is an object of this invention to provide simple and etfective means for bracing loads in a load conveyance means.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel load brace of the type set forth above wherein a relatively fixed portion is first positioned generally adjacent to a load and a relatively movable portion is then moved tightly against the load and locked in place.

Another object of the invention is to provide a load brace wherein each end of the brace can be separately adjusted against the load to accommodate variations in the dimensions of the load.

Still another object is to provide a load brace of the type set forth above wherein the movable portion thereof can be quickly and easily released from contact with the load when desired.

Yet another object is to provide a load brace as set forth above wherein the movable portion is cammed toward the load by cam means disposed on an axis perpendicular to the plane of lateral movement of said movable portion.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of one embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which said drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partially broken away of a load supporting frame for supporting coils of sheet metal, said frame having the expandable load brace of this invention mounted thereto;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing a front view of the load brace;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the coils, support frame, and load brace of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the expandable load brace of this invention;

FIG. 5 is an irregular section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a section taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a section taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a section taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a section taken along the line 9---9 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of an end portion of the expandable load brace of this invention, a portion thereof being cut away; and

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a portion of the expandable load brace of this invention, the same being sectioned generally along the line 1111 of FIG. 10.

Referring now to the drawings in all of which like parts are designated by like reference numerals, the expandable load brace of this invention is generally indicated at 62 and is shown mounted to a fiat bottomed gondola car between side rails 40 carried thereby. In the example illustrated, said load brace is used to secure coils of sheet metal during transit. However, it will be understood that said load brace may be used in any environment where the bracing of a load is desirable, and may be provided in different sizes and located in different positions for securing any type of load.

At 20 there is shown a deck or bottom of a conveyance means, such as a flat bottomed gondola car, adapted to support or carry a plurality of coils 22 of sheet metal. As herein illustrated, said coils are disposed with their axes aligned parallel with the direction in which the car is moving; that is, longitudinally of said car. The coils 22 are supported by means of a metal support frame generally indicated at 24, said frame comprising a base plate 26 having rows of transverse angled supports 28 disposed adjacent to the side edges thereof and spaced uniformly therealong. Each angled support 28 comprises a flat vertical portion 30 disposed nearest to the edge of the base plate 26, a horizontal portion 32 extending inwardly from a point adjacent to the upper end of the vertical portion, and an inwardly and downwardly angled portion 34 extending from the inner edge of the horizontal portion 32. The inner end of the angle portion 34 is disposed upon the base plate 26, and a vertical web 36 is disposed upon said base plate and beneath the horizontal portion 32 and the angle portion 34 to give rigidity to each angle support 28. The portions 30, 32, and 34 and the web 36 are preferably rigidly welded to each other and to the base plate 26.

The angle supports 28 are arranged in transversely aligned pairs across the deck or bottom 20, and the angled portions 34 are preferably provided with wood facing indicated at 38. As shown in FIG. 2, the steel coils 22 are cradled between the angle supports 28, two points on the periphery of each coil contacting the wood facing 38 on the angled portions 34. The circular shape of the coils 22 causes them to center themselves perfectly with respect to the angled portions 34 whereby said coils are seated against lateral movement during transportation thereof.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support frame 24 is further provided with angle-shaped side rails 40 each of which comprises a downwardly directed vertiml flange 42 and an inwardly directed horizontal flange 44 extending inwardly from the upper edge of the vertical flange 42. As herein illustrated, the lower edge of each vertical flange 42 is disposed upon the adjacent horizontal portions 32. of the angled supports 28 with the outer surface of said vertical flange welded or otherwise suitably secured to the upper ends of the vertical portions 30 of said angled supports.

The support frame 24 is further provided with end stops 46 each of which comprises a pair of channel members 48 and 50 disposed transversely of the support frame and connected at their ends to the side rails 40. The channel member 48 at'each end opens upwardly with its web disposed on top of the horizontal flanges 44 whereas the channel member 50 opens downwardly and has its web portion disposed against the bottom surfaces of said horizontal flanges. The ends of the channel members 48 and 50 and the horizontal flanges 44- are secured together in any suitable manner, such as by nut and bolt assemblies 52. The channel members 48 and 50 of each end stop 46 are further reinforced by vertical braces 54 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 disposed outwardly of the support frame 24. Inwardly of said frame, said channel members 48 and 50 carry U-shaped abutment members 56 having upper and lower horizontal flanges 58 and 60 respectively welded or otherwise suitably secured to the adjacent channel members 48 and 50. It will be understood that the endmost coils 22 in the support frame 24 abut the abutment members 56 of the end stops whereby said coils cannot slide axially out of said support frame.

The expandable load brace of this invention is generally indicated at 62 and is adapted to be disposed transversely across the horizontal flanges 44 of the side rails 40 and is further adapted to be horizontally adjustable in substantially small increments along said horizontal flanges. At each adjusted position, the load brace 62 affords a fixed portion 64 and a movable portion 66 which are generally indicated and best seen in FIG. 6. The movable portion 66 moves in the longitudinal direction of the deck or bottom 20 of the conveyance in a direction parallel with the axes of the coils 22'. Thus the fixed portion 64 can be anchored in a position closely adjacent to one of the coils whereupon the movable portion 66 is moved into abutment with the coil to prevent axial movement thereof.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 4-11, the fixed portion 64 of the load brace 62 comprises an upwardly open, upper channel member 68 and a downwardly open, lower channel member 70, The upper channel member 68 has front and rear vertical flanges 72 and 74, respectively, and a horizontal web 76; the lower channel member 70 has front and back vertical flanges 78 and 80, respectively, and a horizontal web 82. As shown in FIG. and further detailed in FIG. 9, the horizontal webs 76 and 82 are held in fixed, spaced relationship to each other by spacers 84. Said horizontal webs are rigidly connected together at said spacers by any suitable means such as nut and bolt assemblies 86 which project through suitably aligned apertures in said webs and spacers. By means of the spacers 84, the channel members 68 and 70 are uniformly spaced apart in the vertical direction across the support frame 24, and as shown in FIGS. 4-6, the end portions of said channel members transversely overlap the horizontal flanges 44 of the side rails 40, said horizontal flanges projecting inwardly between the horizontal Webs 76 and '82. J

The lower sides of the end portions of the upper horizontal web 76 are preferably provided with wear plates 88 which abut the upper surfaces of the horizontal flanges 44. Said wear plates, the upper webs 76, and the lower webs 82 are provided with aligned, transversely elongated slots 88a, 76a, and 82a, respectively, and the horizontal flanges 44 are provided with uniformly spaced apertures 44a adapted to be aligned with the aforesaid slots. The slots are provided in pairs at the ends of the fixed portion 64, and the apertures 44a. are so spaced that any two adjacent apertures will align with said slots. Retainer pins 90 project downwardly through the aligned slots 76a, 88a, 82a and apertures 44a whereby the fixed portion 64 of the expandable load brace 62 is firmly anchored at its ends across the support frame 24.

Cam means are provided adjacent to either end of the expandable load brace 62 for caming the movable portion 66 outwardly, or forwardly, with respect to the fixed portion 64. Said cam means, generally indicated at 92, are identical in their parts and operation with the exception that the cam on the left-hand end of FIG. 4 is actuated by rotation in a clockwise direction whereas the cam at the right-hand end of the said figure is actuated by rotation in a counter-clockwise direction. Therefore, only the left-hand cam means will be described in detail, it being understood that the right-hand cam means is identical therewith except as set forth above.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 4-7, 10 and 11, the upper channel member 68 of the fixed portion 64 is provided with a plate 94 which is horizontally disposed and connected at its forward and rearward edges adjacent to the upper ends of the front and back vertical flanges 72 and 74. The plate 94 is preferably welded or otherwise suitably secured to said flanges and is provided with a substantially large aperture 96 adjacent to the front flange 72 through which a sleeve 98 projects. The sleeve 98 extends upwardly from the web 76 through the aperture 96 and is welded to both said Web and the plate 94. A similar, coaxially positioned sleeve 100 projects downwardly from the web 82 of the lower channel member 70 and is welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto. The sleeves '98 and 100 are coaxially disposed with respect to apertures 102 and 104 of the webs 76 and 82, respectively, and a shaft 106 projects through the sleeves 98 and 100 and the apertures 102 and 104 and projects upwardly a short distance above the sleeve 98. A generally semicircular cam 108 having a curved cam surface 110 and a flat side 112 is centrally apertured at 114 whereby it is adapted to receive the shaft 106 which is welded to said cam. The cam 108 is disposed in the space between the Webs 76 and 82. and is so eccentrically mounted that upon rotation thereof in one direction, the cam surface 110 projects a substantial distance forwardly of the fixed portion 64 whereas upon rotation in the opposite direction, said cam surface substantially retracts within said fixed portion.

The upwardly extending portion of the shaft 106 is provided with a horizontal handle 116 whereby the shaft 106' can be manually rotated to actuate the cam 108-. The handle 116 makes a sweep across the horizontal plate 94 as the cam is actuated, and said plate is provided with a plurality of openings 118 disposed upon an are about the axis of the shaft 106. The handle 116 is provided with an aperture 120 which sequentially aligns with the openings 118 as the handle is rotated whereby said handle can be locked to the plate 94 by positioning a retainer pin 122 downwardly through the aperture 120 and a selected opening 118. Thus the cam 108 can be manually rotated to extend the cam surface 110- the desired extent whereupon said cam can be locked in place by the aforementioned pin 122.

The movable portion 66 of the expandable load brace of this invention comprises an elongated, channel-shaped abutment member 124 disposed with its channel opening rearwardly. Said abutment member has a vertical web 126 and upper and lower horizontal flanges 128 and 130, said flanges being adapted to abut the vertical flanges 72 and 78 of the upper channel member 68 and the lower channel member 70, respectively, when the movable portion is in the retracted position. The abutment member 124 is preferably of a length greater than the distance between the horizontal flanges 44 of the side rails 40, and the web 126 is provided with horizontal slots 131 at the ends of said abutment member which are slidably engaged by said flanges, as best seen in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 8, each transversely directed end portion of the abutment member 124 is provided With a pair of angles 132 and 134. Each angle 132 has a vertical flange 132a welded inside the horizontal flange 128 and a horizontal flange 1321; welded inside of the vertical web 126. In a similar manner, each angle 134 has a vertical flange 134a welded inside of the horizontal flange and a horizontal flange 13412 welded inside of the vertical Web 126. The horizontal flanges 13212 and 1341; are ver tic-ally spaced from each other a sufficient distance to receive the forwardly directed ends of slide bars 136. At each end of the abutment member, the horizontal flanges 128 and 132b, the forward end of each slide bar 136, and the horizontal flanges 134b and 130 are all provided with suitably aligned apertures to receive a pin 138 which pivotally secures the slide bar 136 to the abutment member 124. Each slide bar 136 slidably projects rearwardly between the webs 76 and 82 and is provided with a longitudinal slot 136a adapted to slidably receive a short pin 140 the ends of which are welded in suitable aligned apertures 76b and 82b in the webs 76 and 8-2, respectively.

It will be noted that there are four of the spacers 84 disposed between the upper channel member 68 and the lower channel member 70, two of said spacers being positioned adjacent to the ends of the load brace 62 and the other two of said spacers being positioned generally halfway between said ends. The central two spacers 84 are spaced apart laterally a short distance, and a slide bar 136 is slidably mounted therebetween and between the webs 76 and 82 in the same manner as that set forth above with respect to the end slide bars. The forward end of said middle slide bar is mounted to the abutment member 124 by a pin 138 (FIG. 4) which passes through suitable apertures in the horizontal flanges 128 and 130 in the same manner set forth above. .As detailed in FIG. 9, the central portion of the abutment member 124 is provided with elongated angles 142 (FIG. 4) and 144 having vertical flanges 142a and 144a and horizontal flanges 14217 and 144b, respectively. The angles 1'42 and 144 extend transversely from the center of the load braces 62 to points adjacent to the cam means 92 and are secured in exactly the same position and manner as the shorter angles 132 and 134. Thus, three slide bars 136 and their associated parts are provided for sliding movement of the movable portion 66 in response to rotation of the cams 108.

Between the transversely directed ends of the angles 142 and 144 and the outwardly positioned angles 132 and 134 there are preferably provided hardened steel wear bars 146 disposed in the same plane as the cams 108, as clearly shown in FIG. 7. The cam surfaces 110 ride on the wear bars 146 when said cams are rotated to cam the abutment member 124 tightly against a coil 22. FIG. 4 illustrates the cams 108 in the retracted position, the cam at the left-hand end of the load brace being rotated all of the way in a counterclockwise direction and the cam at the right-hand end being rotated all the way in the clockwise direction. FIG. 6 shows the left-hand cam 108 fully rotated in the clockwise direction as indicated by the broken line showing of the handle 116. The pivotal mounting of the forward ends of the slide bars 136 allows for a slight cocking or skewing of the abutment member 124- in situations where the load is irregular and one end of the abutment member needs to be cammed forwardly further than the other end thereof. The elongated slots 76a, 88a, and 82a and the horizontal slots 131 of the abutment member web 126 allow the expandable load brace 62 to accommodate to slight irregularities or warpage of the elongated side rails 40 which may occur in large weldments. The slots 131 and the interfitting flanges 44 of the side rails 40 lock the abutment member 124 against vertical movement with respect to said side rails thereby reducing the bending moment on the slide bars 136 when a vertical force is applied to said abutment member.

It will be understood that the break lines B in FIG. 1 illustrate that the car or other conveyance carrying the deck or bottom 20 may be of indefinite length with an indefinite number of the coils 22 mounted in an elongated support frame 24. At each end, coil 22 is typically disposed against an end abutment member 56 with an expandable load brace 62 mounted adjacent to, and having its movable portion 66 cammed against, the other end of the coil. Under these conditions, a second coil 22 may then abut the rearward vertical flanges 74 and 80 of the channel members 68 and 70, respectively, with yet another load brace 62 being positioned behind the second coil. In this manner, a number of coils may be firmly mounted in the support frame 24 with the load braces serving as adjustable abutment members against one coil in one direction and as a fixed abutment member for the coil next adjacent thereto in the opposite direction. If a last coil such as the one at the right-hand end of FIG. 1 is in abutment with the abutment member 56 at the right-hand end of the frame 24, a load brace '62 may be provided which is reversed; that is having its movable portion 66 acting in the opposite or right-hand direction as shown in FIG. 1 to firmly seat said endmost coil against the right-hand end stop 46.

As shown in FIG. 9, the movable abutment member 124 may be provided with a facing of wood or the like shown in broken lines at 148. Said facing may be mounted by any suitable means such as countersunk bolt and nut assemblies 150, also shown in broken lines. Similarly, facing 152 may be secured to the rear or back flanges 74 and by nut and bolt assembly 154.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides simple and positive means for providing a transverse load brace which can first be firmly anchored in a position adjacent to a load and then finely adjusted to secure the load tightly against movement. It will further be readily appreciated that the expandable load brace of the present invention may be oriented in any position with respect to the conveyance means for retaining any type of load against lateral, vertical, or angular displacement.

What I claim is:

1. An expandable load brace adapted to be mounted in a load conveyance means adjacent to a load to be braced, said load brace comprising a first elongated member adapted to be fixed with respect to the conveyance means; a second elongated member disposed parallel with said first member; means mounting said second member to said first member for movement laterally toward and away from said first member while remaining substantially parallel therewith; said mounting means comprising a plurality of slide bars, each slide bar being pivotally connected to said second elongated member at one end of the slide bar and slidably mounted with respect to said first elongated member at the other end of the slide bar; cam means mounted on pivot means of said first member disposed perpendicular to the plane of lateral movement of said second member; said cam means including a substantially flat cam and means for actuating said cam, the cam having arcuate cam surface portions contacting said movable member upon actuation of said cam means for camming said movable member outwardly against a load; said pivot means being eccentrically positioned with respect to the arc of said cam surface portions whereby upon rotation of said cam in one direction, said movable member is cammed outwardly and upon rotation of said cam in the opposite direction, said movable member is free to be retracted; and means mounted within said cam for retaining said cam in 'a selected position whereby said second member is held against the load.

2. An expandable load brace as set forth in claim 1: said first member having means providing a plurality of arcuately spaced apertures; said cam means having means providing at least one opening which can be aligned with any one of said apertures; and pin means for projecting through said opening and a selected one of said apertures to retain said cam in a selected pivoted position.

3. An expandable load brace as set forth in claim 1: each said bar having a longitudinally directed slot therein; a plurality of pins carried by said first member, said pins projecting through respective of said slots to aiford limited movement of said slide bars and said second member.

4. An expandable load brace adapted to be mounted in a load conveyance means adjacent to a load to be braced, said load brace comprising a first elongated member adapted to be fixed with respect to the conveyance means; a second elongated member disposed parallel with said first member; means mounting said second member to said first member for movement laterally toward and away from said first member while remaining substantially parallel therewith; said mounting means comprising a plurality of slide bars, each slide bar being connected to said second elongated member at one end of the slide bar and slidably mounted with respect to said first elongated member at the other end of the slide bar; cam means mounted on pivot means of said first member disposed perpendicular to the plane of lateral movement of said second member; said cam means including a cam and means for actuating said cam, the cam having cam surface portions contacting said movable member upon actuation of said cam means for camming each movable member outwardly against a load; said means for retaining said cam in a selected position whereby said second member is held against the load; said cam having substantially arcuate cam surface portions; said pivot means being eccentrically positioned with respect to the arc of said surface portions whereby upon rotation of said cam in one direction, said movable member is cammed outwardly and upon rotation of said cam in the opposite direction, said movable member is free to be retracted; said pivot means including journal means carried by said first member; a shaft pivotally mounted in said journal means; said cam fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith; a, handle mounted on one end of said shaft for turning said shaft; said first member having means providing a plurality of arcuately spaced apertures; said handle having an opening therein which can be aligned with any one of said apertures by pivoting said handle; and pin means for projecting through said opening and a selected one of said apertures to retain said handle and cam in a selected pivoted position.

5. An expandable load brace adapted to be mounted between spaced supports in a load conveyance means for engaging a. load, said load brace comprising a first elongated brace portion; means for mounting the ends of said first brace portion to said spaced supports adjacent to a load; said first brace portion comprising two elongated, parallel members; spacer means vertically spacing said parallel members from each other to provide a horizontal opening therebetw'een; means rigidly connecting said members and spacer means together; a second elongated brace portion disposed parallel with said first brace portion adjacent to one open side of said horizontal opening; means mounting said second brace portion to said first brace portion for movement laterally in a horizontal plane while remaining substantially parallel with said first brace portion; a substantially flat cam having a substantially arcuate lateral edge camming surface disposed in and coplanar with said horizontal opening; said cam being pivotally mounted to said parallel members of said first brace portion on a vertical axis disposed eccentrically with respect to the arc of said camming surface; means for rotating said cam about said axis whereby upon pivoting said cam, said camming surface contacts said second brace portion and earns it against the load; and means for retaining said cam in a selected rotated position whereby said second brace portion is held against the load; said cam being mounted to a shaft for pivoting about said ver tical axis; said shaft projecting vertically beyond one of said members; a horizontal handle fixed to the projecting end of said shaft; a vertical opening in said handle; said one member having means providing a plurality of arcuately spaced apertures defining an arc coaxial with said shaft whereby said handle can be rotated to align said opening with any one of said apertures; and pin means for projecting through said opening and a selected one of said apertures to retain said handle and cam in a selected, pivoted position.

6. An expandable load brace as set forth in claim 5, said means mounting said second brace portion to said first brace position comprising a plurality of slide bars disposed in said horizontal opening; each said slide bar being connected to said second brace portion at one end of the bar and slid-ably mounted with respect to said first brace portion at the other end of the bar.

7. An expandable load brace as set forth in claim 6-, said first brace portion having a cam, shaft, handle, and pin retaining means as aforesaid mounted adjacent to each end thereof whereby the ends of said second brace portion can be separately cammed against the load; said slide bars being pivotally connected at said one end to said second brace portion whereby said second brace portion can be skewed slightly with respect to said first brace portion.

'8. An expandable load brace as set forth in claim 7, each said bar having a longitudinally directed slot therein; a plurality of pins carried by said members and projecting across said opening through respective of said slots to afford limited movement of said slide bars and said second member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,752,472 4/ 1930 Whitney 248354X 1,909,178 5/ 193-3 Hudson -369(5) 2,747,520 5/1956 Brown, In, et al. 105-369(B) 3,200,772 8/ 196 5 Moorhead 105369( B) 3,307,497 3/ 1967 Chapman et al. 105-3-69 (B) 3,353,506 11/1967 Snyder et al 105369(B) DRAYTON E. HOFFMAN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X..R. 248119 

